Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership (HELD)

Advisors: D. Eric Archer, Wanda Hadley, Ramona Lewis, Donna Talbot
Room 3571 Sangren Hall

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education Leadership is targeted toward professionals working in the postsecondary education settings. Key program goals include preparing individuals to become transformational leaders, ready to help educational or other institutions to address current challenges, including the need to better educate students who have historically not been well served by traditional learning institutions. In addition, graduates will expand their inquiry and research skills, enabling them to add to the knowledge base concerning education, especially as it relates to the growing challenges facing all educational institutions.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. in Higher Educational Leadership requires that students submit the following information within WMU’s on-line graduate application, and meet the established criteria, including:

1. A master’s degree from an accredited institution, indicated on an official transcript.
2. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 for all graduate work undertaken beyond the bachelor’s degree.
3. Official transcripts as required by WMU.
4. A Career and Professional Goals Written Narrative in which an applicant clearly describes his/her professional goals, and how this doctoral program fits with those goals.
5. Graduate Reference Forms completed by three different individuals who can address an applicant’s ability to successfully complete doctoral-level work.
6. A Professional Vitae or Resume.

WMU’s graduate application, along with more details on the application requirements and processes, can be found on the Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology’s website, wmich.edu/leadership. The total number of students accepted in any given year will depend upon the quality of individual applicants, as well as available resources to support the program.